The tough-as-nails middleweight survived two lopsided and bloody rounds and then shocked a massive crowd that was clearly rooting for Japanese veteran Yushin Okami.

The stunning comeback victory was part of UFC 144’s pay-per-view main card,
which took place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitma, Japan. It
followed prelims on FX and Facebook.

UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan gushed that it was one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history. And it’s hard to argue with him.

Okami showed his dominance early in the fight, and his striking proved quicker and more accurate. A quick jab and straight punches were especially effective, and low kicks set up additional power punches that continually popped Boetsch. After trading low kicks and jabs, Boetsch got through a couple quick hooks, but the round left him with multiple facial cuts.

A confident Okami continued popping Boetsch in the second round with the stinging jab and jarring knees to the body. Midway through the round, he then scored a takedown before popping free of a guillotine choke. Okami jockeyed for position while delivering punches from half guard. He then worked an arm-triangle choke before transitioning to a kimura, which allowed him to move to the mount position. Okami then ditched the kimura attempt and rained down heavy punches in the final 30 seconds of another dominating round. In fact, the ref nearly stopped the fight before the round ended.

A frustrated Boetsch returned to his corner with blood gushing from his nose, and he knew he needed the finish. His corner implored him to let his hands fly.

After landing a right hand early in the final frame, Boetsch landed another and then appeared to stun the Japanese fighter with a head kick and additional punches from the clinch. Okami retreated, but Boetsch chased after him and unloaded more punches from the clinch. The uppercuts sealed the deal, and Okami collapsed to the mat in a heap. The stoppage came 54 seconds into the round.

It was a stunning comeback for the suddenly fast-rising Boetsch.

“I knew nothing less than a knockout or finish would win that fight for me,” he said. “My heart was in it, and I knew I could win.

“You see what happens when you do what you’re trained to do.”

Boetsch (15-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC), a former light heavyweight, is 3-0 since a move to middleweight, and he’s 7-1 in his past eight fights. Okami (26-7 MMA, 10-4 UFC), fighting for the first time since a title loss to champ Anderson Silva, suffers the first back-to-back losses of his career.

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